Going vegan is the in thing to do
Giving up meat, chicken, fish, eggs, milk and cheese sounds daunting -- not to mention tasteless and boring.
But the growing number of people who have gone vegan say this is not the case. And furthermore, it's downright hip to be a vegan now, according to a story in the Hartford Courant.
There are now Vegan cookbooks with glossy, gastro-glam pictures and sassy attitude, the story says. There are fancy vegan bakeries in Manhattan. And Ecorazzi.com, a "green" gossip website, just named Ellen DeGeneres, Ginnifer Goodwin, Alicia Silverstone, John Salley and Emily Deschanel the "top vegan celebrities" of 2009.
Here are some more celebs gone vegan.
About a million Americans identify themselves as vegan, according to a 2008 Harris Poll commissioned by "Vegetarian Times," the Courant story says. Apparantly, the environmental movement, including the push to buy local, has given a boost to the numbers.
So, you willing to drop the burger and the scrambled eggs in the name of health and the environment?
Photo courtesy of the Hartford Courant
Comments
I've been vegan for about 4 years now, and I'm happier and healthier than I've ever been. Sure, it's a big change from the way most Americans eat, but it's doable. I've learned so much about new cuisines--my diet is infinitely more flavorful and varied than it was before. Give it a try for the planet, the animals, and your health! Go vegan! :)
Posted by: Shannon | October 13, 2009 7:43 AM
I was in the process of going vegan about 12 years ago -- was up to 2-3 vegan meals a week and enjoying them. At the same time I was having lots of digestive problems and joint pain. I felt really awful, but prided myself on moving towards a healthier diet.
Then I consulted an internist about the health issues. His conclusion wass that I'm one person who should never try to be a vegetarian! I showed allergies/sensitivities to many grains and nightshade vegetables (potatoes, eggplant, peppers) and wasn't able to digest them properly and access the nutrients I needed.
While the vegan diet has many advantages for many people it's important to be aware that it's not healthy for everyone.
Posted by: Barb | October 13, 2009 11:05 AM
To sort through the information, and misinformation, about veganism, try reading The China Diet, by a Professor Emeritus from Cornel. The fact is, traditional physcians are behind the research on veganism, which clearly illustrates a plant-based diet is significantly better for health. Additionally, the United Nations has identified factory farming as the leading cause of global warming, Yes, THE LEADING CAUSE! Additionally, the intense confinement and abuse of farmed tanimals are proundly cruel and inhumane, so much more than the adverage American realizes. This cruelty is completely unnecessary and like all other oppression, bad for everyone involved, on so many levels.
Read Silverstone's book, or skip it and go right to the real research that demonstrates the critical imporatance of going vegan. Beware that much of the info out there is funded by the animal agri-business. Find disinterested parties. Be smart. Care about the future.
Posted by: Julie67 | October 13, 2009 11:26 PM
Julie67,
Going vegan may be the environmentally proper thing to do, and it may be beneficial for many people, but please be aware that there are many people with dietary sensitivities and allergies (wheat, nut and nightshade sensitivies are common) whose hearts may be in the right place, but whose bodies have other requirements. I didn't just take my doctor's word for it. I agreed to try altering my diet for two weeks. Within four days of eliminating wheat I had less pain, more energy, and could actually stand up straight and walk for more than half-a-block. One size does not fit all!
Posted by: Barb | October 15, 2009 11:54 AM